Webster's Dictionary, 1913

Alcoranist noun One who adheres to the letter of the Koran, rejecting all traditions.

Alcornoque noun [ Spanish , cork tree.] The bark of several trees, esp. of Bowdichia virgilioides of Brazil, used as a remedy for consumption; of Byrsonima crassifolia , used in tanning; of Alchornea latifolia , used medicinally; or of Quercus ilex , the cork tree.

Alcove noun [ French alcôve , Spanish or Portuguese alcoba , from Arabic al-quobbah arch, vault, tent.] 1. (Architecture) A recessed portion of a room, or a small room opening into a larger one; especially, a recess to contain a bed; a lateral recess in a library. 2. A small ornamental building with seats, or an arched seat, in a pleasure ground; a garden bower. Cowper. 3. Any natural recess analogous to an alcove or recess in an apartment.

Alcyonium noun [ Greek ... a zoöphyte, so called from being like the halcyon's nest.] (Zoology) A genus of fleshy Alcyonaria, its polyps somewhat resembling flowers with eight fringed rays. The term was also formerly used for certain species of sponges.

Alcyonoid adjective [ Greek ... + - oid .] (Zoology) Like or pertaining to the Alcyonaria. -- noun A zoöphyte of the order Alcyonaria.

Alday adverb Continually. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Aldebaran noun [ Arabic al- debarān , from dabar to follow; so called because this star follows upon the Pleiades.] (Astron.) A red star of the first magnitude, situated in the eye of Taurus; the Bull's Eye. It is the bright star in the group called the Hyades.

Now when Aldebaran was mounted high Above the shiny Cassiopeia's chair. Spenser.

Aldehyde noun [ Abbrev. from al cohol dehyd rogenatum, alcohol deprived of its hydrogen.] (Chemistry) A colorless, mobile, and very volatile liquid obtained from alcohol by certain processes of oxidation. » The aldehydes are intermediate between the alcohols and acids, and differ from the alcohols in having two less hydrogen atoms in the molecule, as common aldehyde (called also acetic aldehyde or ethyl aldehyde ), C 2 H 4 O; methyl aldehyde , CH 2 O.

Aldehyde ammonia (Chemistry) , a compound formed by the union of aldehyde with ammonia.

Alder fly 1. Any of numerous neuropterous insects of the genus Sialis or allied genera. They have aquatic larvæ, which are used for bait. 2. (Angling) An artificial fly with brown mottled wings, body of peacock harl, and black legs.

Alderman (al"dẽr*m a n) noun ; plural Aldermen [ Anglo-Saxon aldormon , ealdorman ; ealdor an elder + man . See Elder , noun ] 1. A senior or superior; a person of rank or dignity. [ Obsolete] » The title was applied, among the Anglo-Saxons, to princes, dukes, earls, senators, and presiding magistrates; also to archbishops and bishops, implying superior wisdom or authority. Thus Ethelstan, duke of the East-Anglians, was called Alderman of all England; and there were aldermen of cities, counties, and castles, who had jurisdiction within their respective districts. 3. One of a board or body of municipal officers next in order to the mayor and having a legislative function. They may, in some cases, individually exercise some magisterial and administrative functions.

Aldermanity noun 1. Aldermen collectively; the body of aldermen. 2. The state of being an alderman. [ Jocular]

Aldermanlike adjective Like or suited to an alderman.

Aldermanly adjective Pertaining to, or like, an alderman.

Aldermanry noun 1. The district or ward of an alderman. 2. The office or rank of an alderman. [ R.] B. Jonson.

Aldermanship noun The condition, position, or office of an alderman. Fabyan.

Aldern adjective Made of alder.

Alderney noun One of a breed of cattle raised in Alderney, one of the Channel Islands. Alderneys are of a dun or tawny color and are often called Jersey cattle . See Jersey , 3.

Aldine adjective (Bibliog.) An epithet applied to editions (chiefly of the classics) which proceeded from the press of Aldus Manitius, and his family, of Venice, for the most part in the 16th century and known by the sign of the anchor and the dolphin. The term has also been applied to certain elegant editions of English works.

Aldol noun [ Ald ehyde + - ol as in alcohol .] (Chemistry) A colorless liquid, C 4 H 8 O 2 , obtained by condensation of two molecules of acetaldehyde: CH3CHO + CH3CHO = H3CH(OH)CH2CO; also, any of various derivatives of this. The same reaction has been applied, under the name of

aldol condensation , to the production of many compounds.

Ale (āl) noun [ Anglo-Saxon ealu , akin to Icelandic , Swedish , and Danish öl , Lithuanian alus a kind of beer, OSlav. olŭ beer. Confer Ir. ol drink, drinking.] 1. An intoxicating liquor made from an infusion of malt by fermentation and the addition of a bitter, usually hops. » The word ale , in England and the United States, usually designates a heavier kind of fermented liquor, and the word beer a lighter kind. The word beer is also in common use as the generic name for all malt liquors. 2. A festival in English country places, so called from the liquor drunk. "At wakes and ales ." B. Jonson. "On ember eves and holy ales ." Shak.

Ale silver A duty payable to the lord mayor of London by the sellers of ale within the city.

Alecithal adjective [ Greek 'a priv. + ... yelk.] (Biol.) Applied to those ova which segment uniformly, and which have little or no food yelk embedded in their protoplasm. Balfour.

Aleconner noun [ /Ale + con , Middle English cunnen to test, Anglo-Saxon cunnian to test. See Con .] Orig., an officer appointed to look to the goodness of ale and beer; also, one of the officers chosen by the liverymen of London to inspect the measures used in public houses. But the office is a sinecure. [ Also called aletaster .] [ Eng.]

Alectryomancy noun [ Greek ... cock + -mancy .] Divination by means of a cock and grains of corn placed on the letters of the alphabet, the letters being put together in the order in which the grains were eaten. Amer. Cyc.

Alee adverb [ Prefix a- + lee .] (Nautical) On or toward the lee, or the side away from the wind; the opposite of aweather . The helm of a ship is alee when pressed close to the lee side.

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